Primary Education in Pakistan. An Analysis and Assessment of Pakistan's Present Primary Education System with Recommendations for its Further Development. Part I: Summary Conclusions and Recommendations.

Development Associates, Inc., Arlington, VA.

The first part of a four-part analysis and assessment of Pakistan's system of primary education, this document presents summary conclusions and recommendations. Despite gains in primary school attendance and recent good economic performance, Pakistan's educational base remains so weak as to constitute a serious threat to continued economic growth. The problem lies mainly with the country's rural population, and although development planning and educational authorities have attempted for years to make primary education a priority within the educational system, the status of primary schools and literacy education has continued to worsen. This report argues that with or without external cooperation, Pakistan now needs to develop an integrated program composed of complementary projects that together will add up to solutions to its enrollment and literacy problems. The report summarizes recommendations for actions that such a program should carry out, including an illustrative program composed of a series of projects that, taken together would, it is believed, help significantly to meet Pakistan's needs. (DB)